Friends sign up for cross-Channel adventure

A team is hoping their 20-year-long friendship will give them the edge as they take part in a local charity’s first cross-Channel fundraising challenge.

Team SADDADS, a nickname coined by the wives of Ashley Simpson, Darryl Long and John Raffel, will be taking part in the Hospice’s international fundraiser Bangers 2 Bordeaux.

Setting off from the Evans Halshaw Car Store, in Crane Blvd, Ipswich, on Friday, 24 April, the journey will see the trio drive a car costing less than £500 through France to a selected chateau in the Bordeaux region.

They will have 48-hours to get to the chateau pick up a bottle of wine and then travel back to the car showroom for Sunday, 26 April.

Along the way, there will be tasks to complete, with points awarded if they manage to make the best use of their time.

Darryl said: “We all have children of similar ages and as the kids grew up together so all members of their families got to know each other.

“Over the years, we have enjoyed many shared experiences as a group including holidays, birthday celebrations, parties and picnics in the park.

“In the early days of the group, our wives would arrange weekends away whilst us ‘SADDADS’ would congregate at soft play areas or local parks to amuse the children and drink coffee together.

“So regular did we become that the ladies nicknamed us the ‘SADDADS’ and the name stuck! We remain strong friends and are excited to be getting involved in this very unique challenge together.

“St Nicholas Hospice Care has helped a number of the ‘SADDADS’ relatives and friends over the years, we are all pleased to be able to support this worthy cause by taking part in Bangers 2 Bordeaux.”

If you would like to enter a team and take part in Bangers 2 Bordeaux in aid of the hospice, or for more information, please contact Rachel Card, Corporate Fundraiser on 01284 715560 or email rachel.card@stnh.org.uk.

Teams must consist of four people, with a £250 entry fee per team (entry fee includes the cost of the Channel crossing), they are also (jointly) asked to try to raise £500 for the charity, which cares for those across the area living with dying, death and grief.

You can also sign up online here: https://stnicholashospice.org.uk/news-community/events-listing/bangers-2-bordeaux/

The deadline for entries is Friday, 13 March.

You can support team SADDADS fundraising efforts here: https://bit.ly/2wrGAy7